The 2022 CCS Invitational at the Lil Carwash

On August 21st, 2022, with the support of Converse CONS, some of the most celebrated skateboarders of the past, present, and future converged at CCS headquarters in Portland, Oregon to chop it up and throw it down at the Lil Carwash, a warehouse-loading-dock-sized recreation of the legendary Sunset Carwash spot. As with the previous 3 CCS Invitationals, we anticipated a lot of fun mixed with significant destruction. And we got a ton of both.

Video by Bobby Bils, Adam Robo, and Chris Varcadipane.
Photos by Norma Ibarra.

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Elissa Steamer showed up a few hours before the start of the event and immediately christened the Carwash with switch crooked grind. I guess when you're a judge you got to get your session in before the contest begins.

 
The Portland crowds came out early to check out all that the 2022 Carnival Village had to offer.

 
The boys from Bones Wheels upgraded 100 sets of old wheels for brand new formula X97s free of charge. They even did all the labor.

 

Our pals at Pro Tec were on site protecting skulls and rotting teeth with a chance to win a new helmet and lots of candy as a consolation prize.

 
Walk up, spin the wheel, and walk away with a fresh pair of Lakai shoes? Yes, please.

 

Slappies on Ace Trucks: Easy.
Winning some swag at the Ace Trucks Ring Toss game: Not as easy. (But still pretty easy).

 
Free pizza. The cornerstone of any skateboarding event.

 
And what goes perfect with some pizza (if you're over 21 with ID)?

Montucky Cold Snacks, of course!

Keeping them Cold Snacks cold.

CCS and Montucky Cold Snacks: This looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

 

Meanwhile Kevin from Look Back Library and Joe Brook are chilling at the event entrance kicking knowledge.

 
Mason and Malto have it made in the shade.

 

Guest of Honor and Carwash OG John Cardiel kept the stoke flowing all day long.
Including Cards, there were 7 SOTYs in attendance at the event!

 
There is here! Myles de Courcy and CCS rider (and new There Skateboards Pro) Chandler Burton getting loose before the contest begins.

And by "getting loose" we mean heavy tricks like this front smith.

 
As the warm-up session started to heat up, the crowds started to gather.

 
10 more minutes for warm-ups and then the real madness begins.
Shout out to all the local rippers who got their tricks in before the official contest.

 

Dale Decker finds a good vantage point before things get too hectic.

 
CCS Brand Director and Carwash Manager Matt Price introduces your MCs for the event: Frank Gerwer and Elissa Steamer!

 

It's on!

 
When Sebo shows up you know it's gonna go down. And Sebo always shows up for the CCS events. Flip in as the crowd flips out.

 
CCS rider Louie Lopez with the fat frontside flip.

 Another pine-scented cash prize for Lou.

Don't worry, there's plenty more where that came from. Carwash attendant (and obstacle painter) Andrew Bobrek came strapped with Little Trees.

 
Myles goes the distance with this backside 5-0.

 
Ryan Lay, Sean Malto, Louie, and Ish Cepeda. When these guys are stoked, you know something good is going down.

 
Elissa ensures that the hits keep coming.

 
CCS rider Drake Johnson tosses a tre to flat.

 
Between Drake and Crazy Franky, there were some serious pine-scented pockets happening.

 
Then CCS rider Mason Silva went and noseblunted the whole fuckin' Carwash.

 

And then everybody stops skating. A hush falls over the crowd Is the contest over? What's that appoaching?

 
UMA frontman Evan Smith rolls up (with the help of a forklift) in a slightly modified 1987 Chrysler LeBaron convertible.

 

The Lil Carwash LeBaron Session is a go! 

 
Evan with the kickflip crooks!

 
Chris Milic with a frontside frogger.

 
Bruised Mango.

 
Erik Herrera with a backside LeBaron flip.

 
CCS rider Jamie Foy; Textbook fakie 5-0.

 
Antonio Durao with a switch stance backside tailslide on the LeBaron rail. Stop for a moment and think about that. Switch back tail. Mental.

 The crowd was HYPED!

 
Drake cuts through the chaos with a smooooth 360flip. 

 
Louie was rifling off bangers at a furious pace. Frontside feeble to frontside 180 out.

 
Stoked.

 
And then, the inevitable.

 

When Price pours a beer on it, you know the contest is done.

 
Drake and Tommy Guerrero discuss the history of skating cars in contests while the judges "tabulate their scorecards".

 
Olympic medals are cool and all but the real pinnacle of skateboard competition achievement is a CCS trophy that definitely isn't a toy car glued to a candlestick and spray painted gold.

 
Hometown hero Sebo Walker representing for Portland. Best Trick Into the Lil Carwash.

 
Mason Silva gets some hardware to put next to his SOTY trophy. Best ledge trick for that noseblunt.

 

Ish was landing bolts all day. Best Trick Over the LeBaron.
Tony D also got a trophy for his rail wizardry, but was too elusive and mysterious to be photographed when not skating.

 

And Cardiel's Choice for grand winner of the Lil Carwash: Louie Lopez.
In addition to the glory, a pocket full of pine-smelling 20s, and a check of 3 grand, Louie also gets the original papercut artwork for the event flyer by artist Nathan McKee. Congrats, Louie!

 
And we've got to mention that the contest weekend was highlighted with a musical performance by Tommy Guerrero.

 

HUGE thanks to everyone who skated the event, Converse CONS for making it happen, Montucky Cold Snacks for providing beer, all the brands that hooked the fans up in our carnival village, Tommy G, Frank Gerwer, Elissa Steamer, John Cardiel, and most of all the awesome folks who came out to witness the event and support what we do. Let's do it again next year!

By the way, if you want to skate the 16-foot ledge of the Lil Carwash, we brought it over to the PSU Courts park for everyone to enjoy. Mohr Customs is utilizing the rest Lil Carwash wood to make some more obstacles that'll be coming soon.

OK, play us out, Tommy.